Mythbusting
Only real psychology here please
Dr. Gordon Wright
The most common questions Psych Students get asked
Introduce yourself, Gordon
Unfortunately, none of the interesting psychologists are here today.
So you are stuck with me.
I am sorry to say that I spend lots of my time lecturing Research Methods and Statistics.
We take that seriously here at Goldsmiths.
We are just about to introduce next year’s Y2 research topics
Independent choice of topics
Work as a group
Run a real exxperiment using Qual and Quant techniques
And yes, Analyse the data!
This year was a bit of a nightmare…
Let me tell you why!
Can you read my mind?
Mind-reading for real
Die in the cup task
The Science of Mind Reading
- Psychological research reveals we can detect subtle nonverbal cues that appear like mind reading
- Psychologists study subconscious communication through microexpressions and body language
- Professional “mind readers” utilize techniques like cold reading, warm reading, and hot reading
- Brain imaging studies show how we predict others’ intentions through mirror neurons and theory of mind
Techniques Behind “Mind Reading”
Scientific Explanations
- Unconscious behavioral cues
- Implicit pattern recognition
- Skilled observation of reactions
- Statistical guessing with feedback
Real-World Applications
- Clinical psychology assessments
- Law enforcement interrogations
- Marketing and consumer research
- Human-computer interaction design
Are you profiling me?
The Psychology of Environmental Profiling
- Research shows personal spaces contain “behavioral residue” that reveals personality traits
- Psychologists can analyze bedrooms, offices, and social media profiles for accurate personality insights
- Gosling’s research demonstrates how possessions and environment reflect our “extended self”
- The field of psychogeography explores how personal spaces both shape and reflect identity
What Your Stuff Says About You
What We Can Actually Tell
- Conscientiousness from organization
- Openness from variety of books/music
- Extraversion from memorabilia
- Emotional stability from photo content
Ethical Considerations
- Consent and privacy boundaries
- Avoiding stereotyping
- Cultural context differences
- Responsible use of information
Can you seduce anyone?
The Science of Rapport Building
- Psychological research identifies specific techniques that build authentic connection
- Mirroring and behavioral synchrony create unconscious feelings of affinity
- Self-disclosure and active listening promote oxytocin release and interpersonal bonding
- Cialdini’s principles of influence explain persuasion effects in social contexts
Building Genuine Connection
Empirically-Validated Techniques
- Maintained eye contact (70% listening)
- Subtle mirroring of posture and speech
- Asking follow-up questions
- Using person’s name appropriately
Beyond Manipulation
- Authentic interest vs. manipulation
- Ethics of interpersonal influence
- Building meaningful relationships
- Applying research responsibly
Do you like People Watching?
The Science of Social Observation
- People-watching is a sophisticated cognitive process studied in social perception research
- Psychologists analyze “third-party encounters” to understand how we interpret social interactions
- We form accurate impressions about relationships, status, and intentions within seconds
- Brain studies reveal specialized neural networks dedicated to processing social dynamics
How We Make Sense of Social Interactions
What We Can Detect
- Relationship types (friends vs. strangers)
- Power dynamics and social status
- Romantic interest and attraction
- Cultural norms and violations
Research Applications
- Clinical assessments (e.g., autism)
- Cross-cultural understanding
- Artificial intelligence development
- Urban planning and public spaces
https://huggingface.co/spaces/LittleMonkeyLab/All_a_bit_emotional
Can you do tricks like Derren Brown?
The Psychology of Cold Reading
- Cold reading uses psychological principles to create illusion of mind reading or clairvoyance
- Techniques include Barnum statements, observation, and probability-based guessing
- Psychologists study these methods to understand belief formation and cognitive biases
- The ideomotor effect explains unconscious movements in techniques like pendulum swinging
The Science Behind the Performance
The Science Behind the Performance 2
Psychological Mechanisms
- Confirmation bias in interpretation
- Subjective validation effects
- Availability heuristics
- The Forer (Barnum) effect
Critical Thinking Tools
- Distinguishing skill from deception
- Understanding suggestibility
- Recognizing statistical tricks
- Ethical entertainment vs. exploitation
Can you Sherlock me?
The Science of Personality Prediction
- Research shows personality traits can be predicted from behavioral patterns and preferences
- The “Big Five” traits provide a scientific framework for understanding stable dimensions
- Digital footprints on social media can reveal personality with surprising accuracy
- Behavioral economics uses “nudges” based on personality insights to influence decisions
Predicting Personality from Behavior
What Science Can Actually Predict
- Career preferences from personality traits
- Consumer choices from values
- Social behavior from attachment style
- Digital behavior from cognitive style
MINDSPACE Framework
- Messenger: who communicates matters
- Incentives: response to rewards/penalties
- Norms: influence of social expectations
- Defaults: tendency to accept preset options
- Salience: attention to novel/relevant items
Just because we are
- Debunking myths in human behavior
- Understanding the ethics of influence and perception
- Thinking Critically about popular psychological claims
- How to appreciate the complexity of the human mind
Doesn’t mean we have to be boring, and not use cool toys!
Next Year? Maybe?
Thank You
Contact Information: g.wright@gold.ac.uk
Get Real! | 2025